There has been considerable interest in the Internet of Things (IoT) recently, and whether connecting data, people, processes, and things is beneficial or a risk to data protection. Either way, the IoT is here to stay and our society needs to develop the skills to process the vast amounts of data being generated.

The OU has teamed up with international networking industry, Cisco Systems, to offer a free course to provide an introduction to the “Internet of Everything”. Available on our free online learning platform, OpenLearn, the course will introduce the fundamental concepts and technologies that enable the IoT, and its benefits as well as potential risks. It is intended for anyone with a basic understanding of computer technologies.

We spoke to Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Cisco Systems, Harbrinder Kang, about the advances in technology over the last twenty years, and the role of education in addressing the global IT skills gap:

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Darry is part of the Media Relations team. He has a passion for creativity and has experience of working in agency, corporate and third sector organisations. Darry has a BSc (Hons) Human and Physical Geography from the University of Reading. He specialises in activities and research from the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM); Space Science, and expert academic comment. When he isn't in the office or watching First Dates, he loves to travel.